Version 2.3.13 of the Linux development kernel was released today and it came with the lastest USB driver updates. After spending a few minutes downloading, unpacking, configuring, and compiling the kernel, I was finally able to get a semi-successful frame grab using our new Zoomcam.

[[image:test1.jpg:Zoomcam test image:center:0]]

It’s monochrome, has hum bars, and is a bad picture in bad light but it actually worked! Also, a kernel Oops occured when I tried to grab a second frame… But it’s definitely making progress. The driver will probably support only 320×240 monochrome until the USB communications are stable and things start working really well. Then we’ll get (hopefully!) 320×240 in 8 and 24bit color followed by full resolution 640×480 in 24bit color. Once the driver is stable enough, I’ll set it up as a web cam. What should we call it? NCCcam? CEO-cam?